Dispensing closure

ABSTRACT

A dispensing closure ( 15 ) for a container ( 20 ), such as a beverage container, is provided so as to selectively dispense a product ( 30 ) carried by the closure ( 15 ) into the container ( 20 ). The container has a neck portion with which the closure is engaged to close or seal the container ( 20 ). The closure ( 15 ) has a body ( 21 ) having an outer wall portion ( 22 ) to engage an outer surface of the container neck to releasably secure the closure to the container. The closure ( 15 ) is provided with a compartment ( 16 ) to contain the product ( 30 ) to be dispensed. The compartment ( 16 ) is formed by a cylindrical side wall ( 17 ), a top wall ( 18 ) and a frangible bottom wall ( 19 ). A cutting blade ( 31 ) is moveable relative to the side wall ( 17 ) and the bottom wall ( 19 ) to break open the frangible bottom wall ( 19 ) to selectively dispense the contents ( 30 ) into the container ( 20 ). The closure ( 15 ) has means restricting inadvertent relative movement of the cutting blade ( 31 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a dispensing closure for containers andrelates particularly to a dispensing closure which is adapted to engagea container and facilitate dispensing of a material, such as a liquid,solid, powder or granular material, into the container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention will be described with particular reference to a cap for aliquid container, such as a beverage container. However, it will beappreciated that the principals of the invention can be applied tocontainers and closures of many different types to enable two or morematerials to be kept separated up to the moment of use, and to thendispense, discharge or mix at least one of the materials into another.Thus, the invention is applicable to, for example, dispensingpharmaceuticals in liquid, powder, tablet or granule form into anappropriate medium for ingestion of the pharmaceutical; dispensingcolour pigments, in liquid or powder form or in capsules, into basepaint carriers; mixing cosmetic colouring material into a carrier;mixing chemicals, including catalysts and hardeners, and particularlythose that may be toxic or dangerous to touch, into an activeingredient; discharging food flavouring, colouring, sweeteners or otherfood product into an appropriate beverage medium or the like. Theinvention is therefore useful for combining materials of many typeswhere it is necessary or desirable to selectively dispense or mix onematerial or substance into another.

DISCUSSION OF PRIOR ART

A number of proposals have previously been made for containers to beconstructed in a way that two products are maintained separated untilthe moment of use at which time one product is admixed with the other inthe container. Containers of this type have been proposed with closureswhich are used to effect the product separation and facilitate theintroduction of one product into the other. However, the containers andclosures previously proposed are relatively complicated. For example, inone proposal a closure is formed of three parts, a first part includinga compartment to hold one product, the compartment being adapted toengage in the neck of a container, a second part which moves relative tothe first part and has a means for opening a bottom wall of thecompartment to release the first product into the container, and asealing cap which engages over the compartment and second part to sealthe closure on the container.

Such a structure is relatively complicated and expensive to manufacture,requires the assembly of three separate parts as well as introduction ofa product into the compartment during assembly, and necessarily involvesa number of separate actions in order to release the product in thecompartment into the container.

In another proposal as outlined in Patent GB2012714, a container isdisclosed having an inner wall which divides the container into twocompartments. An upper compartment contains a piercing device that ismoveable by pressure applied to a top wall to cause a tip of thepiercing device to pierce a hole in the dividing wall. However, thisstructure requires a moveable top wall and is, therefore, susceptible toaccidental actuation.

It is therefore desirable to provide an improved dispensing closure forcontainers which obviates at least some of the disadvantages ofpreviously proposed dispensing closures.

It is also desirable to provide a dispensing closure for containerswhereby a material or substance in liquid, powder, solid, granular orother form is able to be quickly and easily dispensed into the productin the container on which the closure is attached.

It is also desirable to provide a dispensing closure for containerswhich is relatively easy to produce, assemble and use.

It is also desirable to provide a dispensing closure for a variety ofcontainer types, including beverage containers, paint containers,cosmetic containers and others.

It is also desirable to provide a dispensing closure which may beadapted for a variety of different products to be dispensed into thecontainer on which the closure is mounted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a dispensingclosure to dispense at least one product into a container, the closureincluding a container closure body adapted to sealingly engage with aneck of the container, the body having securing means to secure theclosure to the container neck, a compartment to contain the at least oneproduct to be dispensed, the compartment being adapted to fit within thecontainer neck and being defined by a side wall, a top wall and afrangible bottom wall, and cutting means moveable relative to the sidewall and the bottom wall to break open the frangible bottom wall of thecompartment to selectively dispense contents of the compartment into thecontainer.

In one form of the invention, the closure body includes an outer,cylindrical wall and a coaxial inner wall. The outer wall is providedwith internal threads adapted to threadingly engage the threaded neck ofa container to which the closure is to be fitted The inner wall engageswithin the container neck, and the compartment fits within the innerwall. The upper end of the compartment is formed with a radiallyoutwardly extending flange having reversely formed shoulders to engagecorresponding shoulders on the closure body. In this way, the two partsof the closure are able to be snap-fitted together so that thecompartment is able to rotate about its axis relative to the body. Inthis embodiment, the inner wall of the body carries a cutting knife edgewhich is inwardly and upwardly turned towards the frangible bottom wallof the compartment. The bottom wall of the compartment extends at anangle to a plane perpendicular to the axis such that, in first assembledposition, the bottom wall does not contact the knife. On relativerotation of the compartment, however, the frangible bottom wall isbrought into contact with the knife which cuts and breaks the wall fromthe compartment permitting contents thereof to be dispensed into thecontainer to which the closure is fitted.

In another embodiment of the invention, the compartment and closure bodyare integral and are engaged with a cylindrical band which fits over thewall of the compartment. The band carries the cutting knife whichoperates in the manner described above.

Preferably, the container closure body includes, on the lower end of theouter wall, a tamper proof evidence release band to provide anyindication of tampering with the closure prior to its use.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided adispensing device for dispensing product into a container, the devicehaving a sealed compartment containing the product, the compartmenthaving a substantially cylindrical side wall, a frangible bottom walland a top wall, the compartment being adapted to fit within a neck ofthe container, the device further having an outer wall to engage anouter surface of the container neck and including securing means tosecure the device to the container, and cutting means adapted to berotated relative to the frangible bottom wall, the cutting means and/orthe frangible bottom wall being arranged such that the relative movementcauses the cutting means to break open the frangible bottom wall of thecompartment to selectively dispense contents of the compartment into thecontainer.

The cutting means may extend from a separate cylindrical band coaxialwith the side wall of the compartment but rotatable relative thereto.Alternatively, the compartment and outer wall may be separate integerswith the cutting means extending from an intermediate wall locatedbetween the compartment and the inner surface of the neck of thecontainer.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided amethod of dispensing at least one product into a container, the methodincluding the steps of assembling a compartment containing a product tobe dispensed with a closure body, engaging the assembled closure with aneck portion of a container into which the contents are to be dispensed,providing a cutting knife adjacent to a bottom wall of the assembledclosure, and rotating the knife relative to the bottom wall to cause theknife to cut into the bottom wall to thereby release the contents of thecompartment into the container.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provideda cutting knife for use with a dispensing closure, the knife beingintegrally moulded with a wall of the closure, the knife having at leasttwo cutting edges extending at an acute angle to each other.

In order that the invention is more readily understood, embodimentsthereof will now be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional, elevational view of a first embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional, elevational view of the first embodiment ofthe invention taken at 900 to that of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional, elevational view of a second embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional, elevational view of the second embodimentof the invention taken at 900 to that of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional, elevational view of a third embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional, elevational view of the third embodiment ofthe invention taken at 900 to that of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional, elevational view of a fourth embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional, elevational view of the fourth embodimentof the invention taken at 900 to that of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional, elevational view of a fifth embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional, elevational view of the fifth embodimentof the invention taken at 900 to that of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional, elevational view of a sixth embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional, elevational view of the sixth embodimentof the invention taken at 900 to that of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional, elevational view of a seventh embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 14 is a cross sectional, elevational view of the seventh embodimentof the invention taken at 900 to that of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a cross sectional, elevational view of the seventh embodimentof the invention similar to FIG. 14 showing the closure after an initialactuation;

FIG. 16 is a cross sectional, elevational view of an eighth embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 17 is a cross sectional, elevational view of the eighth embodimentof the invention taken at 900 to that of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a cross sectional elevational view of a ninth embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 19 is a cross sectional, elevational view of the ninth embodimentof the invention taken at 900 to that of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a cross sectional, elevational view of a tenth embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 21 is a cross sectional elevational view of the tenth embodiment ofthe invention taken at 900 to that of FIG., and showing an initialactuation of the closure;

FIG. 22 is a cross sectional, elevational view of an eleventh embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 23 is a cross sectional, elevational view of the eleventhembodiment of the invention taken at 900 to that of FIG. 1, and showingan initial actuation of the closure;

FIG. 24 is a cross sectional, elevational view of a twelfth embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 25 is a cross sectional, elevational view of the twelfth embodimentof the invention taken at 900 to that of FIG. 24, and showing an initialactuation of the closure

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a form of closure in accordance withembodiments of the invention;

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a compartment for a closure, shownupside down, in accordance with embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of another compartment for a closure,shown upside down, in accordance with embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a further form of compartment for aclosure, shown upside down, in accordance with other embodiments of theinvention;

FIG. 30 is an enlarged elevational view of one embodiment of cuttingknife in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of a further form of cutting knife inaccordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrates a first embodimentof the invention in which a dispensing closure 15 has a compartment 16defined by a cylindrical side wall 17, a top wall 18 and a frangiblebottom wall 19.

The height of the side wall 17 varies around the perimeter of thecompartment 16 so that the bottom wall 19 extends at an angle to a planeperpendicular to the axis of the cylindrical side wall 17.

The closure of this embodiment includes a closure body 21 whichcomprises an outer side wall 22 and an intermediate wall 23. The outerside wall 22 is provided with internal threads 24 that engage withcorresponding threads on the neck of a container 20 to which the closureis fitted. When fitted to the neck of a container 20 as shown, theintermediate wall 23 closely engages the internal surface of thecontainer 20 neck.

The top wall 18 of the compartment 16 has an outwardly and downwardlyextending rim 26 with an inwardly directed shoulder 27 to engage acorresponding shoulder 27 a on an upper extension of the intermediatewall 23. Thus, the compartment 16 and closure body 21 are snapped intoengagement by the inter-engagement of the respective shoulders 27 and 27a. The engagement, however, is sufficiently free that the compartment 16is able to rotate relative to the closure body 21 about the axis of theclosure 15.

A lower edge of the intermediate wall 23 carries an inwardly extendingflange 28. At one point around the flange 28, a cutting blade 31 extendsupwardly from the inner edge of the flange 28 towards the top wall 18 ofthe compartment 16. The blade 31 is spaced from the intermediate wall 23by a distance that is slightly greater than the thickness of the sidewall 17.

When the compartment 16 is assembled with the closure body 21, the blade31 is located at that portion of the side wall 17 having the leastextent so that the blade 31 does not penetrate the frangible bottom wall19.

When the closure 15 is engaged with the neck of a container 20, thecompartment 16 is located width the container 20 neck. A tamper-proofevident release band 32 extends from the lower edge of the outer sidewall 22 to provide evidence of tampering with the closure 15 afterengagement with a container 20. A further tamper evident tab 32 a isformed integral with the upper edge of the outer side wall 22, the tab32 a being adapted to engage within a cooperating gap in the rim 26, asdescribed and shown with reference to FIGS. 26 and 27.

In use of the closure 15, when it is desired to dispense a productsealed within the compartment 16, after removal of the tab 32 a, the rim26, which is preferably provided with a knurl ribs or the like, isrotated relative to the closure body 21 thereby causing the angledbottom wall 19 to engage with the upper edge of the blade 31. The blade31 cuts into the bottom wall 19 with continued rotation thereof therebyreleasing the bottom wall 19 to enable contents 30 of the compartment 16to fill into the container 20. Shoulders or the like may be provided toprevent relative rotation to less than 3600 so that the bottom wallremains connected by a small portion to the side wall 17.

The contents 30 of the compartment 16 may be any of those referred toabove or any product that is to be mixed with another within thecontainer 20.

The frangible bottom wall 19 may be formed of an aluminium foil which isadhered to the lower edges of the side wall 17. Alternatively, thefrangible bottom wall 19 may be formed of the same material as the sidewall 17, or it may be of any other suitable material for sealingcontents 30 within the compartment 16, such as a synthetic plasticsmaterial adhered or welded to the lower edge of the side wall 17.

The top wall 18 is formed with an undercut lip 10 for receipt andretention of a label, marker, price disk or other material.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, this embodiment is similar to that shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 except that the compartment 16 is formed integral with theouter side wall 22. In this embodiment, a cylindrical band 34 is asnap-fit over the outer surface of the compartment side wall 17, whichis formed with an appropriate groove 35. The cylindrical band 34 carriesthe inwardly extending flange 28 and the cutting blade 31.

In use of the closure of this embodiment, the cylindrical bandfrictionally engages the inner surface of the container 20 neck therebyholding the band against rotation during rotational movement of thecompartment 16. The outer side wall 22 may be formed with threads, asdescribed previously, or is provided with ribs, ridges or the like whichenable the closure to be snap-fitted to the neck of a container 20.

In the event that threads are used, an internal groove and stop shouldermay be used so that the compartment 16 is able to be rotated relative tothe cylindrical band 34 in one direction only, the shoulder preventingrotation in the opposite direction. This, then, enables the cap to bescrewed onto a container 20 neck without relative rotation occurring,but reverse relative rotation will cause the compartment 16 to rotaterelative to the blade 31 thereby causing the blade to cut into thefrangible bottom wall 19 to release the contents 30 of the compartmentwhich pass into the container 20.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, this embodiment is similar to that of FIGS.1 and 2 in which a separate compartment 16 and separate closure body 21are utilised, the parts being fitted together through inter-engagingshoulders 27.

In this embodiment, the bottom wall 19 extends in a plane perpendicularto the axis of the closure 15. The cutting blade 31 is contained in aprotective pocket 36 formed at one side of the side wall 17. Relativerotation between the compartment 16 and the closure body 21 causes thecutting blade 31 to jump out of the protective pocket 36 thereby causingthe blade to pierce and cut through the frangible bottom wall 19releasing the contents 30 of the compartment 16 into the container 20.

The cutting knife 31, which is shown in both side and front views inFIGS. 5 and 6 has two cutting edges 37 angled away from each other whichensures that the knife is able to cut irrespective of the direction ofrelative rotation of the compartment 16 and the closure body 21.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, this embodiment is similar to that of FIGS.3 and 4 but incorporating the bottom wall and knife construction ofFIGS. 5 and 6.

The cutting blade 31 of this and the previous embodiment has a thirdcutting edge 38 which is substantially parallel to the first cuttingedge. It has been found, in use, that when the compartment 16 is rotatedrelative to the cylindrical band 34 in a direction that moves thecutting blade 31 as illustrated in FIG. 8 towards the right, the actionof cutting also causes the cut bottom wall 19 to peel downwardly therebyfacilitating release of contents 30 of the compartment 16 into thecontainer 20 to which the closure 15 is fitted.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, a modified construction of closure isillustrated in which the compartment 16 is defined by the side walls 17,which fit closely within the container 20 neck, and a separate top wall18 that is attached to the side wall 17 by the inter-engaging shoulders27. In this embodiment, the cutting blade 31 is disposed on the end of adownwardly extending carrier 39. The compartment 16 is thus formed ofseparate parts snap-fitted together, and is particularly suitable for aproduct which is unaffected by the atmosphere.

A shoulder 41 is provided at the upper edge of the side wall 17 at thatpart of the side wall of least extent to restrict relative rotation ofthe blade carrier 39 so that the bottom wall 19 is not completelysevered from its engagement with the side wall 17.

As with all other embodiments, the outer side wall 22 may be providedwith internal screw threads or snap-fitting ribs or ridges or the likefor engagement with a correspondingly shaped neck of the container 20 towhich the closure is to be fitted.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, this embodiment is similar to that ofFIGS. 9 and 10 except that the outer side wall 22 is formed integralwith the top wall 18 and is snap-fitted to the side wall 17 of thecompartment 16 using the inter-engaging shoulders 27.

The side wall 17 is formed with an annular enlargement 40 on its outersurface that tightly engages against the inside surface of the container20 neck The enlargement 40 holds the side wall 17, and the bottom wall19, against rotation relative to the container 20 neck when the outerwall 22, and the integral blade carrier 39, is rotated thereby enablingthe blade 31 to cut through the bottom wall 19.

Referring to FIGS. 13 to 15, this embodiment is similar to that of FIGS.5 and 6. However, in this embodiment, the rim 26 of the top wall 18 isprovided with a tamper proof evident band 42 which extends from theouter edge of the top wall to engage with the upper edge of the outerside wall 22. The inter-engaging shoulders 27 and 27 a are separated,and the cutting blade 31, carried by the flange 28, is spaced from thefrangible bottom wall 19. In this embodiment, there is no protectivepocket for the cutting blade 31.

The contents 30 of the compartment 16 are released, in this embodiment,by removal of the tamper proof evident band 42 thereby permitting thecompartment 16 to be snap-engaged with the closure body 21 by a relativeaxial, downward movement of the compartment 16. Such movement causes thecutting blade 31 to cut into the frangible bottom wall 19 whereuponrelative rotation of the respective compartment 16 and closure body 21causes the cutting blade to cut around the edge of the bottom wall 19and break open the bottom wall 19 to release the contents 30 of thecompartment 16.

The shoulder 41 acts to stop the rotational movement of the cuttingblade 31 cutting through a full 3600, thereby retaining a connectionbetween the bottom wall 19 and side wall 17 which stops the severedbottom wall falling into the container 20.

Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, the dispensing closure of this embodimentis designed particularly for use on containers having a threaded neck,such as a beverage bottle or the like. The closure comprises acompartment 16 engaged with a closure body 21. The compartment has a topwall 18 and a side wall 17 while the body has an outer wall 22, anintermediate wall 23 and a bottom wall 19 formed of a frangible membranewhich extends from the lower edges of the intermediate wall 23. Theperipheral edge of the top wall 18 is formed with a groove 43 to receivea rib 44 extending from the closure body 21 when the compartment 16 andbody 21 are moved to a dispensing position. A cutting blade 31 extendsdownwardly from the side wall 17 so that, on relative axial downward androtational movement of the compartment 16 and body 21, the cutting blade31 pierces and cuts the membrane forming the bottom wall 19 therebypermitting contents 30 of the compartment to be dispensed into thecontainer 20.

If desired, means for relatively rotating the compartment and theclosure body, such as grooved outer surfaces, may be provided onperiphery of the top wall 18 and on the outer side wall 22 to facilitatecutting and removal of the bottom wall or membrane 19.

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, this embodiment is similar to that ofFIGS. 16 and 17 except that the side wall 17 is formed at its lower edgeas a serrated cutter 45 that engages and cuts through the bottom wall ormembrane 19 on relative axial movement in a downward motion between thecompartment 16 and the closure body 21.

A portion 50 of the side wall 17 is relieved adjacent a hinge 50 awhereby a section of the bottom wall 19 is not cut by the cutter 45allowing the cut wall part to fold down about the hinge 50 a to allowthe contents 30 to fall into the container 20.

Referring to FIGS. 20 and 21, this embodiment is similar to that ofFIGS. 1 and 2 except that the top wall is formed with a release valve 46which allows contents of the container 20, when mixed with the contents30 of the compartment 16, to be withdrawn from the container 20 throughthe valve 46.

The release valve 46, which is known per se and will not be described ingreat detail, is maintained in a sealed condition by a cap 48 or shrinkwrap or other sealing means to minimise the possibility of actuating thevalve before the relative rotation of the compartment 16 and closurebody 21 to release the contents 30 of the compartment into the container20. However, once the contents 30 have been mixed, and the cap, shrinkwrap or other sealing means is removed, the release valve 46 is able tobe used to remove beverage or other contents from the container 20. Therelease valve 46 has channels 46 a by which, when the outer portion ofthe release valve is moved inwardly, relative to the top wall 18 to cutopen the valve wall 46 b, the compartment is open to the atmosphere topermit extraction of the container 20 contents.

Referring to FIGS. 22 and 23, the embodiment illustrated is similar insome respects to that of FIGS. 18 and 19. In this embodiment, however,the compartment 16 is formed by the intermediate wall 23, which isintegral with the outer wall side wall 22, the top wall 18 and thebottom wall or membrane 19. This forms a sealed compartment 16 in whichis located the wall cutting structure comprising the side wall 17 havingits lower edge formed as a cutting knife, and an inner top wall 18a bywhich the side wall 17 may be axially moved.

As shown in FIG. 23, the top wall 18 of the closure 15 is flexible ordeformable, such as by forming the periphery thereof as a hinge, so thatthe centre thereof is able to be axially moved downwardly therebycausing the cutting knife to cut through the bottom wall 19.

Preferably, the centre section of the inner top wall 18 a is connected,such as by a cooperating rib and groove forming a snap fit, or byadhesive or other means, to the outer top wall 18.

As with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, a portion 50 of theside wall 17 is relieved adjacent a hinge 50 a whereby a section of thebottom wall 19 is not cut by the cutter, thereby allowing the cut wallpart to fold down about the hinge 50 a to allow the contents 30 to fallinto the container 20. The cutting edge can also be similar to theserrated cutter of FIGS. 18 and 19.

FIGS. 24 and 25 illustrate a modified form of the embodiment of FIGS. 22and 23 in which the inner top wall 18 a is omitted and the top wall 18is formed with a release valve 46 that operates in a similar fashion tothat described with reference to FIGS. 20 and 21. In this embodiment, acap 48 prevents inadvertent operation of the valve and the cuttingstructure. On removal of the cap 48, movement of the valve 46 towardsthe container 20 firstly causes the top wall 18, that is integral withthe valve housing, to move downwardly relative to the side wall 23thereby causing the inner top wall 18 a and associated side wall 17 tomove relative to the bottom wall 19. The cutting knife edge on the loweredge of the side wall 17 cuts through the bottom wall 19 thus allowingthe contents 30 of the compartment 16 to drop into the container 20 formixing with the contents thereof.

Further downward movement of the valve 46 stem cuts or breaks thefrangible membrane 19a closing the bottom of the valve housing so thatthe mixed container contents are able to be dispensed through thechannels 46 a and the outlet of the valve 46. The cutting edge couldalso be similar to the serrated cutter.

FIG. 26 illustrates a closure 15 that may be a closure of any one of theembodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, 5 and 6, or 9 and 10. The rim 26 extendingradially outwardly and downwardly of the top wall 18 has an opening 33(FIG. 27) to receive the tamper evident tab 32 a which is integral withthe upper edge of the outer wall 22 to thereby prevent inadvertentrelative rotation between the rim 26 and the closure body 21.

It will be appreciated that it is important, when assembling thecompartment 16 with the closure body 21 that the parts are properlyaligned so that the cutting blade 31 is appropriately located in aposition which does not cause it to cut into the bottom wall 19 prior tointended use. The tamper evident tab 32 a thereby also serves thatpurpose of ensuring proper alignment as a registration point when theparts are assembled.

The lower edge of the outer side wall 22 is integrally formed with atamper evident band 32 that snaps behind a shoulder 32b formed on thecontainer neck when the closure 15 is engaged on the neck of a beveragecontainer 20 or the like, to prevent removal of the closure from thecontainer 20 without removing the tamper evident band 32.

FIG. 27 illustrates one form of compartment 16 such as is used in theclosure of FIG. 26. The compartments 16 described and illustrated withreference to FIGS. 1 to 25, may contain a single product 30 to bedispensed into a container 20 which, in one example, may hold a beverageor the like. However, the compartment 16 may be divided into two or moreparts by a dividing walls 47 thereby enabling two or more products to bedispensed from the dispensing closure 15. Thus, the contents 30 of atwin compartment 16, as shown in FIG. 28, may be dispensed as alternateproducts or sequentially to dispense both products.

Referring to FIG. 29, a compartment may be divided into three or morechambers by walls or partitions 47. This allows three substances to bedispensed by causing relative rotation of the compartment 16 and theclosure body 21 so that the cutting knife cuts through the frangiblebottom wall 19 until it reaches a petition or dividing wall 47 at whichit then jumps across the petition wall into the next compartment asrotation is continued. The top wall 18 of the compartments 16 may beappropriately marked to indicate the contents 30 thereof so thatselections may be made in dispensing those contents 30. Thus, onecompartment may contain a beverage mix, such as coffee, while anothercompartment contains sugar granules and a third compartment contains acreamer. The user is thus able to choose a desired mix.

Referring to FIG. 30, there is illustrated one embodiment of a cuttingblade 31 for use in the performance of the invention. The cutting blade31 is preferably formed by moulding of the same material as is used inthe construction of the compartment 16 and/or the closure body 21. Theblade 31 is moulded integrally with the respective wall parts of theclosure 15. The blade 31 is specifically designed to first cut throughthe frangible bottom wall 19, which may be a membrane formed ofsynthetic plastics material, aluminium foil or any other suitablematerial used as the frangible bottom wall 19. The blade includes, oneach side, a first cutting edge 51 and a second cutting edge 52. In use,with the wall 19 moving in the direction of arrow “A” relative to theblade 31, the first cutting edge 51 cuts into the wall 19. As therelative position of the wall changes, due to the angle between the wall19 and the plane perpendicular to the rotational axis, the wall 19 movesaxially relative to the cutting edge 51 until it reaches the secondcutting edge 52. Continued relative movement results in the membranematerial being peeled back from the opening formed by the cutting blade31 so that the bottom wall 19 is peeled away from its engagement withthe respective compartment wall thereby permitting compartment contents30 to fall into the container 20 without hindrance by the bottom wall19. Embodiments of the invention will be designed so that the bottomwall 19 is not completely removed from its attachment to the respectivecompartment wall so as not to full into the container 20. Thus, a stopor other means may be provided to reduce the likelihood of the bottomwall 19 being completely removed and falling into the container 20.

By having a cutting blade 31 formed with opposing edges as illustratedin FIG. 30, the direction of relative rotation is irrelevant as eitherside of the blade is able to be used according to the direction ofrelative rotation.

FIG. 31 illustrates another embodiment of cutting blade 31 having twolegs each with three cutting edges 51, 52 and 53. This blade works in asimilar manner to that of FIG. 30 except that, if the direction ofrelative rotation is reversed, the blade edges 53 can also cut thematerial of the bottom wall 19.

1-28. (canceled)
 29. A dispensing closure for dispensing at least oneproduct into a container having a neck portion with which said closureis to engage, said dispensing closure comprising: a body having an outerwall portion adapted to engage an outer surface of the container neck toreleasably secure said closure to the container; a compartment tocontain at least one product to be dispensed, said compartment beingadapted to fit at least partly within the container neck and beingdefined by a substantially cylindrical side wall, a top wall and afrangible bottom wall; a cutting means moveable relative to said sidewall and said frangible bottom wall to break open said frangible bottomwall of said compartment to selectively dispense contents of saidcompartment into the container; and a means restricting inadvertentrelative movement of said cutting means, said closure and product to bedispensed being assembled together prior to application of the closureto the container neck.
 30. The dispensing closure according to claim 29,wherein said outer wall portion of said body is substantiallycylindrical, and said body further includes a coaxial inner wall adaptedto engage within the container neck.
 31. The dispensing closureaccording to claim 30, wherein said outer wall portion of said body isprovided with internal threads adapted to threadingly engage a threadedneck of a container to which said closure is to be fitted.
 32. Thedispensing closure according to claim 30, wherein said inner wallclosely engages within the container neck, and said compartment fitswithin said inner wall.
 33. The dispensing closure according to claim32, wherein said compartment is separate from said body and isinterconnected thereto to facilitate relative rotation therebetweenabout the axes thereof.
 34. The dispensing closure according to claim33, wherein an upper end of said compartment is formed with a rim havingengaging means to engage corresponding engaging means on said closurebody whereby said compartment is assembled to said body and is rotatablerelatively thereto.
 35. The dispensing closure according to claim 34,wherein said compartment and said body are able to be snap-fittedtogether so that said compartment is able to rotate about its axisrelative to said body.
 36. The dispensing closure according to claim 35,wherein said bottom wall of said compartment extends at an angle to aplane perpendicular to the axis.
 37. The dispensing closure according toclaim 36, wherein said cutting means includes a cutting knife carried ona flange extending generally radially inwardly from a lower edge portionof an inner wall of said body, said flange being axially spaced fromsaid frangible bottom wall of said compartment, said knife extending ina generally axial direction from said flange towards said frangiblebottom wall.
 38. The dispensing closure according to claim 36, whereinsaid cutting means includes a cutting knife extending axially from saidtop wall of said compartment inwardly of said compartment side wall andmovable about the axis, and wherein on relative movement of said knife,said frangible bottom wall is brought into contact with said knife whichcuts and breaks open said bottom wall from said compartment permittingcontents thereof to be dispensed into the container to which saidclosure is fitted.
 39. The dispensing closure according to claim 31,wherein said compartment and body are integral such that saidcylindrical side wall of said compartment constitutes an inner wall ofsaid body, and a substantially cylindrical band engages with an outersurface of said side wall adjacent its free edge, said band having agenerally radially inwardly extending flange carrying said cuttingmeans.
 40. The dispensing closure according to claim 39, wherein saidcutting means is a cutting knife which extends from said flange in agenerally axial direction towards said top wall.
 41. The dispensingclosure according to claim 40, wherein said cutting knife is housed in apocket formed in said side wall of said compartment, said cutting knifebeing movable about the axis of said compartment to be released fromsaid pocket so as to then cut said bottom wall at least partly from thecontainer to allow the product in said compartment to pass into thecontainer.
 42. The dispensing closure according to claim 35, whereinsaid cutting means includes a cutting knife carried on a flangeextending generally radially inwardly from a lower edge portion of aninner wall of said body, said flange being axially spaced from saidfrangible bottom wall of said compartment, said knife extending in agenerally axial direction from said flange towards said top wall, saidcutting knife being housed in a pocket formed in said side wall of saidcompartment, said cutting knife being movable about the axis of saidcompartment to be released from said pocket so as to then cut saidbottom wall at least partly from said container to allow the product insaid compartment to pass into the container.
 43. The dispensing closureaccording to claim 36, wherein said compartment is axially moveablerelative to said cutting means to cause said cutting means to cut saidfrangible bottom wall.
 44. The dispensing closure according to claim 43,wherein said cutting means comprises a cutting knife integrally mouldedwith a wall of said closure, said knife having at least two cuttingedges extending at an acute angle to each other.
 45. The dispensingclosure according to claim 36, wherein said cutting means comprises aknife edge formed on a lower edge portion of an internal wall extendingfrom said compartment top wall, said top wall being axially movablerelative to said bottom wall to cause said knife edge to cut away atleast a portion of said bottom wall to allow the product in saidcompartment to pass into the container.
 46. The dispensing closureaccording to claim 45, wherein a centre portion of said top wall isresiliently axially movable relative to said closure body, and saidinternal wall is connected to said centre portion to be movabletherewith whereby said frangible bottom wall is cut by a resilient axialmovement of said centre portion.
 47. The dispensing closure according toclaim 29, wherein said body includes, on a lower edge of said outerwall, a tamper proof evidence release band to provide an indication oftampering with said closure prior to its use.
 48. The dispensing closureaccording to claim 29, wherein said body includes, on an upper edge ofsaid outer wall portion, a tab adapted to engage within an openingformed in a rim of said compartment, said tab ensuring proper alignmentof said compartment and said body when assembled as well as acting toresist inadvertent relative movement of said cutting means.
 49. Thedispensing closure according to claim 29 further comprising a contentsdispensing valve integrally formed with said top wall of saidcompartment to facilitate dispensing contents of the container aftersaid frangible bottom wall of said compartment has been cut to allow theproduct in said compartment to pass into the container.
 50. Thedispensing closure according to claim 29, wherein said compartment isseparated into a plurality of parts by one or more internal partitionsto separately house a plurality of different products to be selectivelydispensed into the container.
 51. A dispensing closure for a containerhaving a neck portion, said dispensing closure comprising: a body havingengaging means and an outer wall portion adapted to engage an outersurface of the container neck to releasably secure said closure to thecontainer, said outer wall portion includes an upper edge having atamper proof evidence release band to provide an indication of tamperingwith said closure prior to its use, wherein said outer wall portion ofsaid body is substantially cylindrical, and said body further includes acoaxial inner wall adapted to engage within the container neck; acompartment to contain at least one product to be dispensed, saidcompartment being adapted to fit at least partly within the containerneck and being defined by a substantially cylindrical side wall, a topwall and a frangible bottom wall, wherein an upper end of saidcompartment is formed with a rim having engaging means to engagecorresponding engaging means on said closure body whereby saidcompartment is assembled to said body and is rotatable relativelythereto, said bottom wall of said compartment extends at an angle to aplane perpendicular to the axis; a cutting knife attached to said bodyand moveable relative to said side wall and said frangible bottom wallto break open said frangible bottom wall of said compartment toselectively dispense contents of said compartment into the container; ameans restricting inadvertent relative movement of said cutting knife; acontents dispensing valve integrally formed with said top wall of saidcompartment to facilitate dispensing contents of the container aftersaid frangible bottom wall of said compartment has been cut to allow theproduct in said compartment to pass into the container; and wherein saidupper edge of said outer wall portion further includes a tab adapted toengage within an opening formed in a rim of said compartment, said tabensuring proper alignment of said compartment and said body whenassembled as well as acting to resist inadvertent relative movement ofsaid cutting means.
 52. The dispensing closure according to claim 51,wherein said cutting means includes a cutting knife carried on a flangeextending generally radially inwardly from a lower edge portion of aninner wall of said body, said flange being axially spaced from saidfrangible bottom wall of said compartment, said knife extending in agenerally axial direction from said flange towards said frangible bottomwall.
 53. The dispensing closure according to claim 51, wherein saidcutting means includes a cutting knife extending axially from said topwall of said compartment inwardly of said compartment side wall andmovable about the axis, and wherein on relative movement of said knife,said frangible bottom wall is brought into contact with said knife whichcuts and breaks open said bottom wall from said compartment permittingcontents thereof to be dispensed into the container to which saidclosure is fitted.
 54. A method of dispensing at least one product intoa container having a neck, the method including the steps of: providinga dispensing closure comprising a body having an outer wall portionadapted to engage an outer surface of the container neck to releasablysecure said closure to the container; a compartment to contain at leastone product to be dispensed, said compartment being adapted to fit atleast partly within the container neck and being defined by asubstantially cylindrical side wall, a top wall and a frangible bottomwall, wherein an upper end of said compartment is formed with a rimhaving engaging means to engage corresponding engaging means on saidclosure body whereby said compartment is assembled to said body and isrotatable relatively thereto, said bottom wall of said compartmentextends at an angle to a plane perpendicular to the axis; a cuttingknife attached to said body and moveable relative to said side wall andsaid frangible bottom wall to break open said frangible bottom wall ofsaid compartment to selectively dispense contents of said compartmentinto the container; and a means restricting inadvertent relativemovement of said cutting knife; placing a product to be dispensed intosaid compartment between said top wall and said frangible bottom wall;sealing said frangible bottom wall to said side wall of saidcompartment; assembling said compartment containing the product withsaid closure body; engaging said assembled closure with a neck portionof a container into which the product is to be dispensed; and axiallymoving said knife relative to the bottom wall to cause said knife to cutinto said bottom wall to thereby release the contents of saidcompartment into the container.